In order to find out if becoming a clay artist is a suitable career for you, you should first seek out classes that teach you not only the tricks of the trade, but the business side as well. A great benefit to these classes is the interaction...

Leisure time has become important to people who want to expand their horizons, but it must also be a way for a person to relax from the stress of their regular life. Working with clay has become one of the best ways for people to relax, but it is not...

Kathy Pallie uses a wide variety of surface textures and patterns to create beautiful pottery pieces made from her natural surroundings. From clay found in the earths surface to freshly peeled tree park, Kathy makes use of everything in her outter surroundings. Her clay creations can be viewed on...

The traditional method of glass blowing requires the artist to mix sand, soda ash and limestone together in a formula. The artist then heats the mixture in a metal crucible. The temperature is the same as molten lava from a volcano, approximately 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. Once this is done, a...

The making of pottery requires mastering skills such as throwing clay pieces on a wheel. Repetition is one of the best ways to refine a manual skill. By making the same pieces over and over again, an artist has a chance to hone their skills to a fine pitch. Repeating...

Although you may think the skills of a clay artist comes naturally, the truth is that their skills came from hard work and dedication. Every artist started out the same exact way, with days of confusion, numerous mistakes and hours of research. Some even attend college for their BFA or MFA degree in ceramics. Although some artists may be more advanced than others in the beginning, it is doubtful that any one artist started creating masterpieces their first day at the wheel. So just when you feel your motivation dwindling away because of small mistakes, keep in mind that mistakes are how you learn how to use your tools correctly and in which motion your hands should run through the clay.

Sometimes finding your motivation in clay art takes meeting the right person or attending the right classes. Even though we like to think we are our own biggest fan, sometimes hearing another artists story is what boosts our motivation and empowerment. Next time you see a beautiful clay sculpture, look for the artists name and do your own simple research. Find out where they went to school, how they got started and what type of struggles they went through to get where they are. Sometimes being aware of the struggle of others will help you to move foward and stop doubting the skills hiding within your soul.